helping cats live happy, healthy lives
Want to keep your cat healthy and happy from kittenhood to their senior years? Our cat health articles include advice on feline nutrition, and how to spot the early signs of illness and disease. We also include everyday healthcare tips on grooming, flea prevention, hairballs, dental health, safety and more.
When you get a heavy cold, what do you do? If you’re like many of us, you take a high dose of vitamin C. The idea is vitamin C boosts your immune system to enable it better fight off the bugs. In much the same way, there are times when it’s appropriate to give your cat’s immune system a helping hand. From the cat with a snuffle that just won’t shift, to the feline …
Continue Reading about Keeping Your Cat Healthy – Building a Strong Immune System
Are you a glass half-empty or a half-full person? When it comes to cancer in cats there’s good news and there’s bad news. First the good news: And the bad news: In reality this means you should be vigilant for any hints or clues that your cat is unwell, because catching cancer early makes all the difference to the success of treatment. But before we get ahead of …
Did you know that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the commonest cause of sickness and diarrhoea in cats? Shocking, isn’t it. But then again IBD isn’t a black and white, all-or-nothing condition, but exists on a ‘spectrum’ from mild to severe. For example, since this is a waxing and waning condition, if your cat has regular, intermittent tummy upsets then IBD could …
Is being a vet your dream job? I’ve worked as a vet for more years than I care to remember. I was just like you: Animal obsessed as a child, eagerly consuming books, articles, or information on anything or everything to do with animals. When I shared my dream with parents and teachers, their reaction was cautious but encouraging. From an early age I ‘saw practice’ at a local …
Continue Reading about So You Want to Be a Vet? Here’s What you Need to Know
Being vegetarian or vegan is a personal choice, and often one that a person reaches out of their love and compassion for animals. But whilst you choose to eat a plant based diet, it is important to remember that your cat is an ‘obligate carnivore’ and they MUST eat meat. Unfortunately, no matter how good your moral intentions, feeding your cat a vegan diet is a recipe for …
Continue Reading about The Dangers of Feeding your Cat a Vegan Diet
An owner brings a young cat into my clinic. The cat’s been off her food for a few days, has a dull unkempt coat, and is running a fever. Something clicks and the thought “FIP” pops into my head. I take a history, hoping for a simple explanation, such as the cat got into a fight…but, no, she’s strictly indoors and an only pet…and the suspicion of FIP ratchets up a notch. As …
Continue Reading about Signs and Symptoms of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)
Anyone caring for an older cat knows how they tug at the heart strings. Cats are such independent, graceful creatures, whilst their ageing bodies make it hard to maintain that dignity. For example, stiff joints can make it difficult for an older cat to reach hard-to-get-to places when grooming, which leads to a dull, matted coat. The truth is your older cat depends on you …
Continue Reading about Common Illnesses Older Cats are More Likely to Experience
Accidents happen. Whilst no one thinks it will happen to their pet, the wise owner plans for the unexpected. The aim of pet first aid is to stabilise your pet before taking her to a vet. In a true emergency your actions could save a life, but there’s also a risk (especially with cats) of doing more harm than good. Indeed, the first rule of first aid is to recognise …
Continue Reading about Pet First Aid Tips: What to Do in an Emergency
“Cats are not small dogs” When I trained as a vet in the 1980s, cats had only been treated in their own right for about a decade. (Astonishing I know!) To prove how far things had come in the last ten years, the lecturers often said, “Cats are not small dogs”….and then illustrated the point with a piece of new research that highlighted how ridiculous it was that veterinary …
Continue Reading about Understanding Epilepsy and Seizures in Cats
It’s ironic that indoor cats are so strongly favoured on safety grounds, whilst the dangers lurking within the home are often overlooked. It’s true there are no motor vehicles or venomous snakes inside, but this doesn’t mean living indoors is risk free. To raise awareness of household hazards and ensure your home is as feline friendly as possible, here are 10 common …
Continue Reading about 10 Common Household Poisons Dangerous to Your Cat
